Book, Movie, Video Game and Real Reviews

The flamboyantly redheaded Princess Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald) is unhappy to learn that she’s supposed to be wed to a suitor she doesn’t know. She argues with her mother, Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson), and pleads with her father, King Fergus (Billy Connolly), to no avail. Merida must follow the rules, even though she’d much rather be out riding her huge black horse Angus, wielding the bow and arrows her father has taught her to use, and enjoying the magnificent 10th-century Scottish countryside surrounding her family’s castle. She’d even rather play with her much younger three…

I recently reviewed the Super Miracle Bubbles Glow Fusion Hi-Beam Illuminator. I had seen this toy advertised, and was so thrilled to be able to try it in the backyard with my two girls. The instructions for the toy were very user friendly, but just be sure that you have 4 AAA batteries because batteries are not included. It took about 60 seconds to prime the bubble maker, and then it pumped out non stop bubbles for a good 10 minutes.

Madagascar 3 begins in a dream. More specifically, it begins in Alex the lion’s (Ben Stiller) dream, in which he imagines he’s finally going home to New York, only to be thwarted by the lemurs, again. It’s not exactly clear, even when he wakes up, how he’s come to be unhappy in Africa, when he was happy in Africa at the end of Madagascar 2. It might be that he’s worried about growing old, as he dreams that his friends — Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith), Marty the zebra (Chris Rock), and Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer) — are looking variously ancient, in wheelchairs and on…

And again: The Wicked Queen, here named Ravenna (Charlize Theron), maintains her youthful beauty by evil means, until she meets the girl who is “fairest of them all,” Snow White (Kristen Stewart). The two women act out a kind of battle between good and evil, if not precisely dark and light, and the nicest one wins. In this case, that one is also a decent sword and knife fighter, and a good horseback rider.

What are crocodile tears anyway? That’s the question this story answers. The setting is Africa, and main characters Rhino and Tickbird happen upon a crocodile who’s shedding those famed tears. The duo won’t dare ask him because they are afraid of crocodiles. So, they set out to find a wise golden eagle who might shed some light on the mystery. Though wise, the eagle wouldn’t dare ask anything of a crocodile either, and guesses that he’s crying because he misses the dwindling population of elephants. He suggests they find an elephant and ask him. The story goes on in a similar way through…

It’s almost as if 15 years haven’t passed since last we saw Agent J (Will Smith). It’s almost unbelievable, that his face remains so unlined, his physique so toned, and his attitude so... er, juvenile. There’s something to be said for consistency, but, as J himself might put it, “Damn!”

What do you do when you meet a dinosaur at the supermarket? This newer title is a sweet fantasy about a polite little girl who meets an equally polite dinosaur at her neighborhood grocery store. The narrative offers scenarios in which simple good manners are required, and asks readers to provide the appropriate response. For example, the little girl bumps into the dinosaur with her cart. What should she say? “I’m sorry,” of course, is the correct response. The story continues in the same fashion until the two part ways with a polite “Goodbye. It was nice to meet you.”

Mostly, Battleship is explosions. In between explosions, and sometimes in the middle of them, it features aliens that look like robots, some super-special-outfitted Naval destroyers, a few shots of beautiful Hawaiian mountains, a brief appearance by Liam Neeson, and an old-fashioned battleship. It also includes some poignant appearances by real-life WWII US Navy veterans. And oh yes, Rihanna and Brooklyn Decker.

I was sent the Miracle-Grow Root Viewer to review. It is listed for ages 5 and up, but my four year old was able to help. The object of the viewer is to be able to see your plant growing not only from the top but be able to see the root system as well. This is a novel idea, as we have never been able to see the root system before. It comes with dirt, seeds and the actual viewer.